Ibrox shaken to red brick core

Within the first minute at Ibrox yesterday, Newco sent a long ball forward that tempted Liam Scales into a challenge he missed.  Seconds later the ball ended in the net, only for the assistant to correctly flag offside.  It looked like a portent of doom to come, however, Liam was undeterred.  He threw himself at every ball into the Celtic final third, clearing danger throughout.  He earned his Man of the Match award.

Gus Lagerbielke was dispossessed when the foot of Dessers clipped his ankle.  The striker advanced into the Celtic box before squaring for Roofe to shoot past Joe Hart into the net.  Even after the first replay, I didn’t see the foul, but it was there.  TV viewers were later treated to bizarre weeping by some on Sky and the BBC highlights programme, where it was explained that while the rules say it was a foul, we just don’t agree with the rules!

This is what being conditioned to getting refereeing decisions your own way looks like.  It is also why Scotland, more than any other country, needs Video Assistant Referees.

Response to this incident determined the outcome of the game.  Our 23-year-old Swedish central defender, on his third outing for the club and still looking for a win, could have been discouraged from holding onto the ball or being open for a pass, but that didn’t happen.  Just as Liam immediately got over this first minute missed header, Gus continued to show, pull opponents towards him and play short passes into space.

Can we agree that Callum McGregor had his best 45 minutes in years?  Much of the credit for Liam and Gus’s fortitude came from the captain making the right angles.  The greatest thing about possession-based football is that it looks easy.  There is always a simple pass on.  Callum made sure this was the case yesterday.

35-years-ago (yes, really), Paul McStay ranged a pass deep into the Rangers half for Chris Morris to run onto.  He squared for Frank McAvennie to score a memorable goal in the Centenary Season.  Just when I was extolling the virtues of Callum’s play, he recreated this move.

The ball took two defenders out of play – then waited for Liel Abada to cross.  What would McAvennie do?  Score, of course, but Kyogo, realising he was at the near post with a keeper ready to block, tried a deft flick to the back post, where he hoped to find Daizen Maeda.  You are not going to remember Callum’s pass 35 years from now, which is a pity, because is was no less deserving than the Maestro’s.

Celtic were now in full control and with the home crowd audibly restless, Kyogo got free again.  This time his second touch let him down and the shot was eventually smothered.  Surely, they could not continue to allow the Japanese striker such freedom without consequence?

For all the great play, when the moment came, it was quite simple.  In the final minute of added time before the break, Joe Hart cleared a goal kick into the Newco half – you don’t want to mess around at the back so close to the break.  Connor Goldson stepped forward from marking Kyogo to head the ball back where it came from.

This is where it gets interesting.  Matt O’Riley, not known for his heading ability, fired his neck muscles to send the ball back, over Goldson and into space for Kyogo to exploit.  Perhaps wary of his second touch after the chance a few minutes earlier, he waited until the ball sat up, then (as they might say in Japan these days), gave it laldy!  It was a strike worthy of winning such a game.

Celtic emerged from the break with a lead to defend and set about doing just that.  Greg Taylor and Alistair Johnston tucked in, O’Riley and David Turnbull sat deeper.  This allowed Newco plenty of the ball, but no space in which to use it to any effect.

Their best chance came when Lammers rounded Hart but as we waited for the net to bulge, he mis-controlled and the ball rolled out of play.  They’re not very good, these new Newco-ers.

Johnston, with only an hour of play under his belt this season going into the game, doubled that time before being replaced by Anthony Ralston.  Then, on 75 minutes, Greg Taylor pulled up.  Celtic were forced to play for 15 minutes, plus 8 in added time, with a back four of Ralston, Lagerbielke Scales and Bernabei.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki, Nat Phillips and Stephen Welsh would all have played, if fit.  It was the most ridiculously under-strength Celtic defence I have ever seen, yet they glided through the game.  Ralston and Alexandro Bernabei had the better of their clearly troubled opponents.

Michael Beale will rue leaving Cantwell and Raskin out of the team, at least, that’s how I remember it.  I am sure his mind wandered to the break-value of his contract, in the hours since.  When Brendan Rodgers was interviewed before kick-off, I thought I sensed hesitation – I was wrong.  His record against Newco is better than any manager in games between Celtic and either of the Rangerses.  He is a talent and yesterday he shook Ibrox to its red brick core.  It was a sight to make your heart sing for a title so wonderous!

My friends in Celtic, enjoy your week.  We’ve still to speak about the transfer window – expect both barrels.